House Small Business Committee

House Small Business Committee
Name	Committee on Small Business
Chamber	United States House of Representatives
Type	standing
Congress	117th United States Congress
Chair	N/A
Ranking member	N/A
Seats	N/A

House Small Business Committee

The House Small Business Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives charged with matters affecting small businesses and entrepreneurship in the United States. It conducts oversight of federal agencies such as the Small Business Administration and reviews legislation impacting small enterprises, access to capital, disaster relief, and federal procurement. The committee engages with groups including the National Federation of Independent Business, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and the National Small Business Association.

Overview

The committee's remit intersects with federal entities like the Small Business Administration, the Office of Management and Budget, and the Department of Treasury when policies affect small enterprises. It holds hearings in venues such as the Longworth House Office Building and the Rayburn House Office Building and collaborates with Senate counterparts including the United States Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Members often consult stakeholders like the Small Business Investor Alliance, the National Association of Small Business Owners, and regional groups such as the Small Business Development Centers network. The committee's work influences programs administered under statutes like the Small Business Act and interacts with federal programs including the Paycheck Protection Program and the SBA 7(a) Loan Program.

Jurisdiction and Responsibilities

The committee’s jurisdiction includes oversight of the Small Business Administration and matters relating to small business procurement preferences, export promotion, and access to capital. It addresses federal contracting issues tied to the Federal Acquisition Regulation and laws such as the Buy American Act and the Contract Disputes Act of 1978 when they affect small contractors. The committee examines loan programs like the SBA 504 Loan Program and interacts with financial regulators such as the Federal Reserve and the Securities and Exchange Commission on small business financing and capital formation. Other areas include disaster assistance programs administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency for small firms and workforce issues involving the Department of Labor when they affect entrepreneurial ventures.

Membership and Leadership

Membership typically reflects party ratios in the United States House of Representatives and includes representatives from diverse districts, often from districts with strong small business constituencies such as the Silicon Valley, Rust Belt, and Sun Belt. Past chairs and ranking members have included members associated with committees like the House Committee on Ways and Means and the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability. The committee maintains subcommittees that focus on areas tied to the Congressional Budget Office scoring, federal procurement, and innovation policy associated with institutions like the National Institutes of Health, Department of Energy, and National Science Foundation. Staffers liaise with entities including the Government Accountability Office, the Inspector General of the Small Business Administration, and nongovernmental organizations such as the SCORE Association.

Legislative Activities and Hearings

The committee crafts and marks up bills affecting small business lending, tax policy, and federal contracting; examples of legislative activity intersect with laws like the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 when evaluating impacts on pass-through entities. It has held hearings featuring witnesses from the National Federation of Independent Business, entrepreneurs from Silicon Alley, franchise operators represented by the International Franchise Association, and trade group representatives from the National Restaurant Association. Hearings often summon officials from the Small Business Administration, the Department of Commerce, and the Federal Trade Commission to testify on regulatory burdens, access to capital, and digital platforms such as Amazon (company) and Google LLC that affect small merchants. The committee also examines federal relief efforts enacted in response to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and related legislation such as the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act.

History and Notable Actions

Since its origins in mid-20th century congressional organization, the committee has shaped policy responses during episodes like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the 2008 financial crisis. It played roles in oversight and reauthorization efforts concerning the Small Business Act and the restructuring of SBA programs after events such as the S&L crisis and legislative reforms tied to the Government Performance and Results Act. Notable bipartisan initiatives have included measures to expand federal contracting to small businesses, veteran-owned firms championed by groups like Veteran Raytheon (note: example of veteran-owned firms' advocacy rather than endorsement), and efforts to reduce paperwork burdens referenced by the Administrative Conference of the United States. Prominent members have collaborated with counterpart legislators from states like California, Texas, New York, and Florida to advance regional entrepreneurship.

Oversight and Investigations

The committee conducts oversight of SBA program implementation and has launched investigations involving contract awards, disaster loan administration, and the integrity of forgivable loan programs linked to statutes such as the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and pandemic relief laws. It coordinates oversight with agencies including the Government Accountability Office, the Office of Inspector General of the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Justice where referrals arise. High-profile inquiries have examined the administration of the Paycheck Protection Program and procurement practices involving federal prime contractors and subcontractors subject to rules in the Federal Acquisition Regulation. The committee also scrutinizes cybersecurity impacts on small vendors with ties to incidents involving firms like SolarWinds and policy responses from the Department of Homeland Security.

Category:United States House of Representatives committees